Prozac

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Three widely used antidepressants, Paxil, Zoloft and Luvox, do not appear to cause birth defects, a study has found. The findings, based on data from nine U.S. and Canadian hospitals, agree with research in animals and with previous studies of the antidepressant Prozac among pregnant women. Prozac acts on the brain in a way similar to the drugs in the new study. An expert not associated with the research said the findings are reassuring but that the study of 267 women was too small to establish that the drugs are safe during pregnancy.

Peter Kramer's 1993 best seller, "Listening to Prozac," sparked national soul-searching on faith in anti-depressants and won rave reviews for its style and insight. His latest work, "Should You Leave?" (Scribner, $25), is a more subtle, nuanced book that he describes as an "odd hybrid of fiction, non-fiction and self-help." In it, Kramer shows he is a gifted observer of American culture. Kramer, a Brown University psychiatrist, spoke with Tribune Literary Editor Elizabeth Taylor about the book's themes of autonomy, intimacy and community.

The drunken driver behind the wheel of Princess Diana's speeding Mercedes also had the anti-depressant Prozac in his bloodstream, prosecutors confirmed Wednesday. A statement by the Paris prosecutor's office said a blood test to determine the driver's alcohol level revealed two chemicals used in prescription medications: fluoxetine and tiapride. Fluoxetine is the generic name for Prozac; side effects include shaking, anxiety and impaired vision. The Health Ministry said tiapride is used in drugs to prevent agitation and aggression, treat alcoholism and prevent abnormal movement.

Eli Lilly & Co. bought the rights to use its anti-depressant Prozac to treat premenstrual syndrome from Interneuron Pharmaceuticals Inc. for an undisclosed sum. The move allows Indianapolis-based Lilly to begin clinical tests, bringing it a step closer to seeking approval to market the drug to treat PMS symptoms. Prozac, one of the world's best-selling drugs with sales of $2.3 billion last year, faces rising competition from rivals including Pfizer Inc.'s Zoloft and SmithKline Beecham PLC's Paxil.

As Racing Champions, a Glen Ellyn-based firm, is into the last lap of a public stock offering, sister company Petersen Publishing also appears to be eyeing an IPO. James Dunning Jr., who heads a Stamford, Conn.-based leveraged buyout firm bearing his name and is one of the investors in Petersen, said the firm has engaged an investment banker to evaluate an IPO. A public offering wouldn't happen until at least year's end, though Dunning says "no decision has been made yet." Dunning, whose media background includes a stint as executive VP of Ziff Communications, now is chairman-chief executive officer of Petersen Cos., the holding company of Petersen Publishing.

A man found sitting on an island in a pond after driving his car into the water was arrested Friday in the ax slayings of his parents. Michael G. Pepper, 34, was found at a pond at Smith College, about 50 miles from the middle-class home where his parents, John, 65, an engineer, and Eleanor Pepper, 64, an office manager, were found hacked to death. Sources close to the investigation said Pepper's sister had been forced into a closet that was nailed shut before the 1 a.m. attack.

For people who fly off the handle too easily, the antidepressant drug Prozac may help them control their explosive outbursts, according to a report at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in San Diego. "Prozac allows impulsive, aggressive people to put the brakes on their behavior and delay explosive reactions, which can cause problems at work and home," said Dr. Emil Coccaro, director of the Clinical Neurosciences Research Unit at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences in Philadelphia.

- Columnist dies: Newspaper columnist Mike Royko, known for his strong and humorous views, died last Tuesday in Chicago. He was 64. - Hope for vaccine: Scientists reported last Tuesday that a vaccine has protected two chimpanzees injected with the AIDS virus. The vaccine is being tested on humans, but it's too early for those results. - Parents questioned: Four months after their 6-year-old daughter was found murdered, the parents of JonBenet Ramsey sat down Wednesday with police to answer questions.

"I'm getting too old to deal with bad characters." --New York Jets coach Bill Parcells, who like many other coaches passed on drafting several college players with records of drug use or trouble with the law. "One man tried to grab the alligator. Another tried to grab an alligator's head from his boat and was pulled from his boat. Most people don't want to admit they've been that stupid." --George Dalrymple, a Florida alligator expert who blames humans for some of the recently highly-publicized attacks by alligators.

ZIP UP THE ZINC: Our bodies need zinc to grow strong and healthy. Zinc also helps cuts and bruises heal faster and enhances growth. So it's important for children and teenagers who are growing fast to eat zinc-flled foods such as meat, turkey, chicken, fish, eggs, cheese, milk and peanut butter. GREAT EXPECTATIONS: Do anti-depressants like Prozac and Zoloft work because we expect them to? Yes, says a study by the Westwood Lodge Hospital in Massachusetts, Penthouse magazine reports.